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Pitting two scrappy, storied, easy-to-root-for underdogs against each other in the play-in has some serious Hunger Games vibe to it.
4.esseff posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:32 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I think the A's are nuts to be celebrating this hard. They've got a huge game tomorrow, and possibly Wednesday.
They need to appreciate the difference between a one-shot wild card and winning the division.
5.sardonic posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:34 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
Does the number 1 seed automatically play the wild card winner or do they reseed?
6.Gamingboy posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:36 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
Does the number 1 seed automatically play the wild card winner or do they reseed?
I am 99% sure that the Number 1 always faces the Wild Card, mainly because Bud Selig has yet to go with my "First Seed gets to chose their opponent thus creating instant drama because the team they pick will be automatically disrespected" idea.
Oh, and I'm still in deep Orioles pessimism mode. I feel 95% certain I won't be seeing Camden Yards in the playoffs. I don't know why, just a really bad vibe.
7.NTNgod posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:42 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I am 99% sure that the Number 1 always faces the Wild Card
It used to be that if the wild card winner and the top seed came from the same division, they couldn't meet in the first round.
This may have been changed with the new format.
8.Gamingboy posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:44 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
I am pretty sure that they've changed the format, primarily for practical reasons.
I think the A's are nuts to be celebrating this hard. They've got a huge game tomorrow, and possibly Wednesday.
They need to appreciate the difference between a one-shot wild card and winning the division.
I think it is nuts to think they don't know this. Bob Melvin has been talking about this, literally, every day.
I hope they're all damn happy, though. This was supposed to be a last-place, 100-loss team.
I sure didn't think they were this good, and I guess I still don't, but I'm very much enjoying the ride.
Watching the celebration in the A's clubhouse and there's a sign on the bulletin board that says, "Please limit your AAA stories to "1" per day person". I can't explain why, but I find that ####### hilarious.
I like Girardi going with Phelps tonight. It may not end up mattering--Phelps could certainly get killed--but I respect him going with a guy who is pitching best right now. (And really, has pitched better most of the season.)
If Phelps gets killed by the lineups the Red Sox are throwing out there, he doesn't deserve to pitch in the majors anymore.
16.TomH posted on October 02, 2012 at 07:40 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
The O's (and maybe NYY) should root for Oakland tonight. Twould be good for them both to use as much of their staff on Wed instead of resting them. If the O's lose the division on Tues they could at least reset for Friday.
17.TomH posted on October 02, 2012 at 07:41 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
Did anyone else think the Yankees should have pulled Sabathisa early after putting a 9-spot on the board?
It looks like Brett Anderson will probably be available for the play-in game Friday if the A's need him. That is pretty good news.
19.escabeche posted on October 02, 2012 at 07:50 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
A's eliminating Tampa Bay is one bright spot in an otherwise bad day for Orioles fans, though given the dogmeat the Red Sox put out on the field yesterday it may be too late for us to catch New York no matter how little the Rays care.
If Phelps gets killed by the lineups the Red Sox are throwing out there, he doesn't deserve to pitch in the majors anymore.
Seriously. A friend pointed out recently that if the Sox rolled out these types of lineups in Spring Training they'd probably be in violation of the rules about fielding a competitive lineup.
21.DKDC posted on October 02, 2012 at 08:29 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
The O's (and maybe NYY) should root for Oakland tonight. Twould be good for them both to use as much of their staff on Wed instead of resting them. If the O's lose the division on Tues they could at least reset for Friday.
I disagree. The As aren't going to rest in 162 unless they've clinched home field for the wild card game. They can't do that if they lose.
The Os division hopes are on life support, but David Phelps might be just what the doctor ordered. That plus a now eliminated Rays team gives me some hope.
Seriously. A friend pointed out recently that if the Sox rolled out these types of lineups in Spring Training they'd probably be in violation of the rules about fielding a competitive lineup.
Some of those players are brutally bad, in a no-hope-of-being-above-average-ever kind of way. There's not a lot of guys playing that will be on the field for the next fun Red Sox team (and though I'm a Yankees fan, I'm a firm believer that fandom is more fun when the Sox are neck-and-neck with the Yanks).
23.DKDC posted on October 02, 2012 at 08:35 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
Its looking pretty overcast in midtown today. A nice long driving soaking rain would be welcome, so the Yanks have to play a double header the day before 163 in Baltimore.
The Os division hopes are on life support, but David Phelps might be just what the doctor ordered. That plus a now eliminated Rays team gives me some hope.
Tonight's the night if you're an Oriole fan. Lester versus Phelps is about as good a pitching matchup as you can hope for. If the Sox don't win tonight I can't see them going out with a bang behind Matsuzaka tomorrow.
Wow, look at the Red Sox record since making the big trade. Starting August 25 they're 9-25.
As a Sox fan, I'm convinced it's going to be several years before they're remotely competitive again. They've been #### for a calendar year now and every single decision they've made in that time has been wrong.
Shooty: I screen grabbed the poster last night:
http://i.imgur.com/gICOx.jpg
29.Toby posted on October 02, 2012 at 09:29 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
The Sox lineups are indeed hideous (and I'm a Sox fan). But at least they were even-handedly hideous -- for 3 games at Camden Yards before the 3 games at the Stadium.
30.DKDC posted on October 02, 2012 at 09:37 AM #hit 0 | hit 0
#29, that's sort of true. Pedroia and Ellsbury both played against Baltimore.
To be fair, both of those guys are banged up (and then some in Pedroia’s case with a broken finger), but it’s still annoying.
If Phelps gets killed by the lineups the Red Sox are throwing out there, he doesn't deserve to pitch in the majors anymore.
Maybe so, but right now Phelps sports a 3.36 ERA with a 126 ERA+. He seldom lasts past the sixth inning, but he's usually kept the Yanks in the game, and anyway, the alternative is Nova.
36.Danny posted on October 02, 2012 at 12:13 PM #hit 0 | hit 0
Shooty: I screen grabbed the poster last night:
That is fantastic--I only wish we could make out the bottom. That has Brandon McCarthy's fingerprints all over it, no?
That's amazing! Looks like it went up in early September, so it could definitely be McCarthy.
If the Yankees, Rays and A's win tonight, the Yankees clinch and the O's will be in Texas or Oakland on Friday. Overall Home Field Advantage (and thus, who goes to Detroit on Saturday) won't be determined until Wednesday (Yankees have a tiebreaker with Texas, lose the tiebreaker to Oakland).
If the Yankees, Rays and Rangers win tonight, the Yankees and Rangers clinch, and again, HFA is determined on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, it would be determined where the Wild Card game is -- an Oakland win or Baltimore loss and it's in Oakland.
If the Orioles and A's win tonight, nothing is decided.
- If the Yankees and Orioles win: Yankees have HFA, Rangers play in Baltimore on Friday, A's play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees win and the Orioles lose: Yankees have HFA, Orioles play in Texas on Friday, A's play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees lose and the Orioles win: A's have HFA, Yankees and Orioles play AL East Championship in Baltimore on Thursday, loser hosts Rangers on Friday, winner plays in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts A's on Sunday
- If the Yankees and Orioles lose: A's have HFA, Orioles play in Texas on Friday, Yankees play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts A's on Sunday
If the Rangers win:
- If the Yankees and Orioles win: Yankees have HFA, A's play in Baltimore on Friday, Rangers play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees win and the Orioles lose: Yankees have HFA, Orioles play in Oakland on Friday, Rangers play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees lose and the Orioles win: Rangers have HFA, Yankees and Orioles play AL East Championship in Baltimore on Thursday, loser hosts A's on Friday, winner plays in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Rangers on Sunday
- If the Yankees and Orioles lose: Rangers have HFA, Orioles play in Oakland on Friday, Yankees play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Rangers on Sunday
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1. Athletic Supporter gangnam style posted on October 02, 2012 at 01:26 AM # hit 0 | hit 0/Deep Orioles Pessimism Mode
They need to appreciate the difference between a one-shot wild card and winning the division.
I am 99% sure that the Number 1 always faces the Wild Card, mainly because Bud Selig has yet to go with my "First Seed gets to chose their opponent thus creating instant drama because the team they pick will be automatically disrespected" idea.
Oh, and I'm still in deep Orioles pessimism mode. I feel 95% certain I won't be seeing Camden Yards in the playoffs. I don't know why, just a really bad vibe.
It used to be that if the wild card winner and the top seed came from the same division, they couldn't meet in the first round.
This may have been changed with the new format.
I think it is nuts to think they don't know this. Bob Melvin has been talking about this, literally, every day.
I hope they're all damn happy, though. This was supposed to be a last-place, 100-loss team.
I sure didn't think they were this good, and I guess I still don't, but I'm very much enjoying the ride.
You find it hilarious because it IS hilarious. Is there a screen shot of this anywhere? That is probably the greatest thing ever, I'm pretty sure.
Seriously. A friend pointed out recently that if the Sox rolled out these types of lineups in Spring Training they'd probably be in violation of the rules about fielding a competitive lineup.
I disagree. The As aren't going to rest in 162 unless they've clinched home field for the wild card game. They can't do that if they lose.
The Os division hopes are on life support, but David Phelps might be just what the doctor ordered. That plus a now eliminated Rays team gives me some hope.
Some of those players are brutally bad, in a no-hope-of-being-above-average-ever kind of way. There's not a lot of guys playing that will be on the field for the next fun Red Sox team (and though I'm a Yankees fan, I'm a firm believer that fandom is more fun when the Sox are neck-and-neck with the Yanks).
Tonight's the night if you're an Oriole fan. Lester versus Phelps is about as good a pitching matchup as you can hope for. If the Sox don't win tonight I can't see them going out with a bang behind Matsuzaka tomorrow.
As a Sox fan, I'm convinced it's going to be several years before they're remotely competitive again. They've been #### for a calendar year now and every single decision they've made in that time has been wrong.
http://i.imgur.com/gICOx.jpg
To be fair, both of those guys are banged up (and then some in Pedroia’s case with a broken finger), but it’s still annoying.
That is fantastic--I only wish we could make out the bottom. That has Brandon McCarthy's fingerprints all over it, no?
Congratulations, A's fans, from a stalwart Nationals fan..Would be a nice WS matchup.
I live this stupid team. BA tweeted that they made sure McCarthy had a special drool cup at the celebration last night.
I predict McCarthy wins game 7 of the world series.
That would be even more amazing than Kirk Gibson.
Maybe so, but right now Phelps sports a 3.36 ERA with a 126 ERA+. He seldom lasts past the sixth inning, but he's usually kept the Yanks in the game, and anyway, the alternative is Nova.
That's amazing! Looks like it went up in early September, so it could definitely be McCarthy.
If the Yankees, Rays and Rangers win tonight, the Yankees and Rangers clinch, and again, HFA is determined on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, it would be determined where the Wild Card game is -- an Oakland win or Baltimore loss and it's in Oakland.
If the Orioles and A's win tonight, nothing is decided.
I love that man. I also love Brett Anderson. I also feel really dumb that I (several months ago) scheduled a trip away this weekend.
If the A's win:
- If the Yankees and Orioles win: Yankees have HFA, Rangers play in Baltimore on Friday, A's play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees win and the Orioles lose: Yankees have HFA, Orioles play in Texas on Friday, A's play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees lose and the Orioles win: A's have HFA, Yankees and Orioles play AL East Championship in Baltimore on Thursday, loser hosts Rangers on Friday, winner plays in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts A's on Sunday
- If the Yankees and Orioles lose: A's have HFA, Orioles play in Texas on Friday, Yankees play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts A's on Sunday
If the Rangers win:
- If the Yankees and Orioles win: Yankees have HFA, A's play in Baltimore on Friday, Rangers play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees win and the Orioles lose: Yankees have HFA, Orioles play in Oakland on Friday, Rangers play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Yankees on Sunday
- If the Yankees lose and the Orioles win: Rangers have HFA, Yankees and Orioles play AL East Championship in Baltimore on Thursday, loser hosts A's on Friday, winner plays in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Rangers on Sunday
- If the Yankees and Orioles lose: Rangers have HFA, Orioles play in Oakland on Friday, Yankees play in Detroit on Saturday, winner of Wild Card Game hosts Rangers on Sunday
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